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Local jackass continues to oppose DCM parking lot bid

That local jackass is David Anthony (previously covered here), who has now made good on his threat to obstruct Self-Help and Durham Central Market’s attempts to build a co-op grocery store on the corner of Kent and West Chapel Hill St.

“I have expanded and expanded ideas,” he said. “My most recent was to get a Durham tourist center, basically something along the lines of a welcome center.”

Anthony has until Monday to top Self-Help’s bid. He said he’s hoping they reach accord before then.

“If not,” he said, “we’ll extend the bid a little longer and raise the price.”

Because, sure, a bullshit welcome center next to a storefront church is a whole lot better than the community open space Self-Help plans to create with its acquisition of the parking lot. “Welcome to Durham’s scenic storefront church district” is certainly a unique hook.

It’s an interesting contrast to the 751 South development, which makes zero concessions and is going to get built come hell or high water anyway. DCM and Self-Help have been incredibly transparent and have made concerted efforts to engage the community throughout the process; indeed, it’s difficult for me to even imagine a better use of the property, which makes such opposition especially perplexing.

So, now you’ve got one dude with enough money to delay the project, who hopes he can make things annoying enough to… do what, exactly? Force DCM/SH to pull out completely? Abandon the green space in the site plan? Good job either way, jerkwad.

For his concerted efforts to obstruct a crucial revitalization effort, I’m giving Anthony the always stylish Jackass of the Week award.

4 thoughts on “Local jackass continues to oppose DCM parking lot bid”

The true question is, “Does Mr. Anthony have enough money to even acquire the parking lot?” When you bid on a house, you must bring proof of funds or a pre-approval letter from a legitimate funding source. Mr. Anthony hasn’t done that. Nor do I think the City’s bidding process require it, which is a larger issue.

Mr. Anthony’s own property, which the article indicates his intention to develop for commercial purpose, has been in disrepair for an extended period of time. Tyvek wrapped around the building, flapping in the breeze for multiple months. If indeed Mr. Anthony has the funds with which to acquire the parking lot, his own property is analogous to the proverbial “Cobbler whose children run around without shoes”.

Anthony’s had plenty of opportunity to provide something of value to the community, and like most other property owners on this strip he’s thoroughly failed to do so.

I mean, I get it. Until recently none of the property here has even had any real value. The Cookery comes in, stuff looks a little better, but still – your safest bet is to just follow the Bill Fields school of preservation: maintain as little as possible, and wait for things to improve around you before you actually invest in anything yourself.

This is where Anthony’s blustering just totally confuses me though. It’s in his best interest for DCM to succeed. DCM is what makes the property on the retail strip actually valuable. DCM is the draw that brings in secondary businesses and creates a successful retail corridor. Any property owner in the immediate vicinity should be ecstatic about this.

So I just don’t get what he’s even trying to do. Is he chair of the storefront church appreciation society or something?

I guess if he actually could score the parking lot *and* have DCM move forward, that’d be a pretty big win, since that parcel would become very valuable indeed.

I’m also unclear on whether the city actually has to sell for the highest bidder in a case like this. The only reason the parking lot is even on the market is because the DCM project is such a positive thing. Would they be bound to sell it to some random dude who just offers more money?